Karnataka govt hikes fees for private engineering colleges by 10 percent

Education

The private engineering college associations had demanded a 25% hike in fees earlier this year.

TNM Staff

The Karnataka government on Saturday announced a 10% hike in fees for private engineering colleges. The Karnataka Minister for Higher Education, GT Devegowda, chaired a meeting with the officials of the Higher Education Department and the Karnataka Unaided Private Engineering Colleges Association, after which the decision was taken. "The association of engineering colleges had demanded a fee hike, we have convinced them for a 10% hike. As we are expecting a code of conduct anytime soon, we finalised the fee structure as early as we could," Minister GT Deve Gowda told the media after the meeting. With the new fee hike, the government seat, for which the fee was pegged at Rs 53,460 in private colleges last year will now be Rs 58,800. For those obtaining admission through COMED-K, seats which were Rs 1,83,600 last year will now be Rs 2,01,960 for the forthcoming academic year.    According to senior officials who were present at the meeting, the Karnataka Unaided Private Engineering Colleges Association, had in early February, approached the state government, seeking a 25% hike in fees. "We have held several rounds of talks with them. Initially, the government was adamant that we would not increase the fee more than 5%. This is because of the existing fee regulatory committee's orders that fee hike cannot be more than 8% per annum. The association wanted a 25% hike and we could not do that. Finally, we decided to settle for 10%," a senior official told TNM. Officials with the Department of Higher Education say that the private engineering colleges are slated to revise the pay of the staff as per the norms set by the 7th Pay Commission in the 2019-2020 academic year. "They said they needed the money. For the last few weeks, they were not willing to move past a 15% hike but we have settled for this," the senior official said. The government's current move is against Justice Shylendra Kumar's Fee Regulatory Committee report, which proposed an 8% fee hike for the previous academic year. The committee had, in July last year, stated that it would penalise anyone who increases the fees in private colleges by more than 8%. "Last year, there was an 8% hike and this year, there wasn't supposed to be a hike. We also had to take into account that the 7th Pay Commission norms were being implemented," the senior official said.  

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Next-gen rookie: Will Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Gowda contest from Mysuru?

Politics

At a party function in Mysuru on Friday, Nikhil Gowda pleaded for support to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Theja Ram

Since the formation of the Janata Dal Secular in 1999, the party has never won a single Parliamentary election from the Mysuru segment. By entering into a pre-poll alliance with the Congress in Karnataka, the party is trying to break the pattern and has demanded that the Mysuru-Kodagu ticket be given to a JD(S) candidate. This became doubly evident during the party meeting held in Mysuru on Friday. It was not Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy or even Deve Gowda, who was the centre of attention. The spotlight was on a 28-year-old political rookie, a man seen as Kumaraswamy's political heir-apparent - his son Nikhil Gowda. "I do not have experience in politics. My grandfather Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister and my father HD Kumaraswamy has become CM of Karnataka twice. You (party workers) have brought up my father from this region. He is responding to all your troubles. I am only asking for a chance. If given, I will be in your service until my last breath," Nikhil Gowda told JD(S) party workers. Although the programme was organised to felicitate Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, the JD(S) leaders lauded Nikhil's 'charisma and determination' to work for the farmers in the state. "In 1996, I lost the Lok Sabha elections by a margin of 11,000 votes and the JD(S) has not won in Mysuru. The JD(S) party workers want Deve Gowda to contest from Mysuru and if not, then we want Nikhil Gowda to contest. I have told Deve Gowda to allow Nikhil to contest and also promised him that we will support him and ensure he wins," Chamundeshwari MLA GT Deve Gowda said.   The JD(S) caste calculation By planning to field Nikhil Gowda from Mysuru with the support of the Congress, the JD(S) is planning to bank on the votes of the Vokkaliga and Kuruba communities in the region. "JD(S) has strong Vokkaliga leaders like AH Vishwanath and GT Devegowda. With the Congress support, we will have leaders like CH Vijayshankar, who has a strong base among the Kuruba community. It will be easy to introduce Nikhil Gowda into electoral politics since the Congress is not going to be the adversary this election. It will give him a chance to prove his  mettle," a JD(S) source said. Sources say that Deve Gowda however is skeptical about fielding more family members and taking on the tag of dynasty politics ahead of the election. JD(S) insiders say that Deve Gowda has plans of expanding the party in other states ahead of the election. "He is in talks with leaders in other states and if the dynasty politics tag sticks, he will face trouble convincing people to join the party," the source added. Will the Congress agree? Considered a power centre of the Congress since 1977, when HD Tulsidas swept the polls in Mysuru, the Congress stronghold was shaken up only during the 1998 polls, when BJP broke into the grand old party's bastion by fielding Kuruba leader CH Vijayashankar. Ever since, the fight has always been between Congress and BJP in Mysuru.   "Fielding Nikhil Gowda from Mysuru will not sit well many experiences leaders. CH Vijayshankar had joined the Congress as the BJP chose to give the ticket to Pratap Simha instead in the 2014 polls. Vijayshankar is an aspirant. He has won two Lok Sabha elections and was a former minister in the BJP government in Karnataka. Leaders in the Congress do not want to give JD(S) the ticket. It will be like inviting your rival to use your bastion and profit from it. Even if the Mysuru seat is given to JD(S), fielding Nikhil Gowda will make a lot of people unhappy, even within the JD(S). This move will be seen as an insult to many senior leaders," a Congress source said.  

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BMRCL adds another six-car train on Purple Line, 3 more to come up in April

Civic

With the addition of the six-coach train, there are now 7 six-coach trains operating in the city with six of them running from east to west.

TNM Staff

An additional six-coach train was introduced by Bengaluru Metro officials on the Purple Line running from east-to-west in the city. Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) further plans to introduce 3 more six-coach trains from April. With the addition of the six-coach train, there are now 7 six-coach trains operating in the city, with six of them running from east to west on the Purple Line. This comes after the first six-car metro running on the Green Line of the Namma Metro between Nagasandra in the north and Yelachenahalli in the south was flagged off in January. On the same day, two six-car trains were added to the Purple Line connecting Mysuru Road and Baiyappanahalli. Until June 2018, all the Namma Metro trains running in the city consisted of three coaches. With a total capacity of 975 passengers at a given time, this caused a space crunch in peak hours of the metro service. The six-car train in comparison can accommodate as many as 2,000 passengers and are currently deployed when the metro is in high demand, particularly the peak hours for travelling office-goers in the morning and in the evening. The six-car train has better energy efficiency and is also capable of automatically regulating its temperature by sensing the ambient air temperature. The first coach in the six-car train and the first two doors in the same train are reserved for women passengers. By September, all Namma Metro trains in the city will be converted into six-car trains. However, BMRCL officials have suggested that the demarcations for men and women passengers many be lifted when all trains running in the city are six-coach trains. BEML has received a contract for developing seven six-coach metro trains for a cost of around Rs 400 crore.

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‘Celebrating preemptive strike will create communal tensions in India’: HD Kumaraswamy

Politics

“For your (BJP's) political gain, you are alienating members of one community and in the coming days, this will lead to innocent lives being lost,” Kumaraswamy said.

TNM Staff

On February 28, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had lashed out against BJP state President BS Yeddyurappa's statement that the preemptive strike in Pakistan's Balakot would help the BJP win 22 seats in Karnataka. On Friday, Kumaraswamy, who was speaking at a party meeting in Mysuru, said that the BJP party workers, who were bursting crackers and celebrating the bombings, in India, were adding fuel to the fire and alienating the two communities within the country.  In a video clip, which has gone viral on social media, Kumaraswamy is heard saying, "Bombing terror cells inside Pakistan aside, by standing on the streets, distributing tea and bursting crackers in celebration of this, the BJP is making way for communal tensions within the country. For your (BJP's) political gain, you are alienating members of one community and in the coming days, this will lead to innocent lives being lost." A day after Kumaraswamy's statement, the BJP in Karnataka has reacted strongly to it and has even called the pre-poll alliance of the Congress, JD(S) as anti-national.  "He says Indians bombing Pakistan & celebrating India’s victory will create rift between two religions in India. CM HD Kumaraswamy just reminding, you are a CM of an Indian state and not Pakistan. This statement completely exposes the anti India mindset of Mahaghatbandhan," the BJP in Karnataka tweeted.  He says “Indians bombing Pakistan & celebrating India’s victory will create rift between two religions in India” CM @hd_kumaraswamy avare just reminding, you are a CM of an Indian state & not Pakistan. This statement completely exposes the anti India mindset of #Mahaghatbandhan pic.twitter.com/hCfAuumG69 — BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) March 2, 2019 Several BJP leaders too lashed out against Kumaraswamy's statement and took to Twitter to admonish him. Chikkamagaluru MLA CT Ravi accused the CM of trying to create a rift between the two communities. "Dear CM of Haasan & Mandya HD Kumaraswamy, I don't see any reason why there will be animosity between two communities if India attacks terrorist bases in Pakistan. Why are you dividing Indians on communal lines like your alliance partner Congress?" CT Ravi questioned.  Dear CM of Haasana & Mandya @hd_kumaraswamy, I don't see any reason why there will be animosity between two Communities if India attacks Terrorist bases in Pakistan. Why are you dividing Indians on Communal lines like your alliance partner CONgress?#WelcomeHomeAbhinandan pic.twitter.com/9TrCUNi9j4 — C T Ravi (@CTRavi_BJP) March 2, 2019 BJP leaders also accused the Congress-JD(S) coalition of resorting to vote bank politics and claimed that the coalition was supporting Pakistan. "The act of Indians distributing sweets and celebrating bombing of terrorists in Pakistan will create rift b/w two communities in India says HDK, Vote bank politics at its best! Are they supporting Pakistan just because they have deep rooted hatred against Modi government?" Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje tweeted. Malleshwaram MLA Dr Ashwathnarayana said, ”By becoming friends with the Congress, HD Kumaraswamy's mindset has also changed. He is looking for loopholes in measures taken for national security. Are you a Chief Minister in India or Pakistan?" Dr Ashwathnarayana questioned.  ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ನ ಸಹವಾಸಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದು ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @hd_kumaraswamy ಯವರ ಚಿಂತನಾ ಶೈಲಿಯು ಕೂಡಾ ಅದೇ ಹಾದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ! ನಮ್ಮ ದೇಶದ ಸುರಕ್ಷತೆಗಾಗಿ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾದ ಕ್ರಮಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಇವರಿಗೆ ಲೋಪ ಕಂಡು ಬರುತ್ತಿದೆ. ನೀವು ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿನಾ ಅಥವಾ ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನದ ರಾಯಾಭಾರಿನಾ? @CMofKarnataka@BJP4Karnataka #GaddarList pic.twitter.com/mHajog58jq — Dr. Ashwathnarayan (@drashwathcn) March 2, 2019

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SC stays K'taka govt order restoring posts of demoted SC/ST govt employees

The Supreme Court in its February 2017 judgement had struck down reservations in promotions given to SC/ST employees in the state dating back to 1978.

TNM Staff

The Supreme Court has stayed the Karnataka government's order restoring the pay and rank of thousands of SC/ST employees who were demoted after the judgement in the BK Pavitra case in February 2017.  After the Supreme Court had struck down reservation in promotions given to SC/ST employees in its 2017 judgement, the Karnataka government passed a law to nullify the judgement and restore the promotions of SC/ST employees two years later on February 27. A bench of judges, hearing a petition filed by General Category employees challenging the Karnataka government, asked the government's counsel to maintain the status quo until the hearing in the case is completed. This means that no promotions/demotions of SC/ST employees can take place until the hearing in the case is completed.    "A statement was made on July 27 by Karnataka’s Advocate General that the status quo would not change. This is a matter of institutional prestige of this court. When the hearing is at final stage on law, it is appropriate status quo is not altered," Justices U U Lalit and D Y Chandrachud said as per Deccan Herald.    If the Supreme Court's 2017 order is upheld and implemented, it will lead to a major reshuffle of personnel in government departments, with as many as 20,000 employees from Backward and General Categories set to be promoted in place of an equal number of SC/ST employees who will be demoted.  Background of the case The BK Pavitra and others vs Union of India case refers to the petition by BK Pavitra, a government engineer working in the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), challenging the concessions in promotions given to SC/ST employees.  The SC, in its February 9 2017 order, had struck down seniority in promotions awarded to SC/ST employees in the state.  This meant that caste based reservation in promotions going all the way back to 1978 were struck down and the Karnataka government belatedly began implementing the order in 2018.  However, the government passed a law restoring the reservation in promotions set aside for SC/ST employees, leading to a fresh hearing on the issue. Meanwhile, several General Category employees had also petitioned the Supreme Court seeking ways to implement the order and gain promotions. 

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Two more arrested in connection with Bandipur Tiger Reserve fire

Environment

The two men who are shepherds, have confessed to the crime in front of a Judicial Magistrate and have been remanded to judicial custody.

TNM Staff

Staff from the Bandipur Tiger Reserve have arrested two more men who were involved in setting fire to the GS Bette area. The two men have confessed to the crime in front of a Judicial Magistrate and have been remanded to judicial custody. Speaking to TNM, Chief of the Karnataka Forest Department Sridhar Punnati said, “We earlier arrested one man, but he did not admit to setting the fire. These two men whom we arrested yesterday have confessed to the crime and have been sent to judicial custody. They are shepherds who herd cattle and sheep, which we don’t allow into the jungle. They were not happy with the tigers that were straying around and killing cattle and set fire as a result.” He also took to Facebook to announce the same, “Bandipur Tiger Reserve staff arrest three who were involved in setting fire to GS Betta area. Two of them who herd cattle agreed before the Judicial Magistrate to have set fire for not allowing cattle inside and for the tiger straying out and killing cattle. All remanded to judicial custody,” read his post. The fire which engulfed the Bandipur Tiger Reserve raged for five long days before it was finally put out on Tuesday, February 26. Officials estimated that around 500 hectares of land had been scorched and destroyed in the fire. “According to satellite imagery, it is estimated that high intensity fire has affected 500 hectares mostly in the hillside of Gopalaswamy Betta and the rest of it is mostly low-intensity fire,” Sridhar had said to TNM at the time. Two helicopters from the Indian Air Force sprayed roughly 30,000 litres of water to fight the fire in the Gopalaswamy Betta range of the reserve. The fire also had significantly scorched the nearby ranges of Bandipur and Kundikere. Activists TNM had spoken to previously claimed that the fire spread so rapidly because there were no ‘sufficient fire lines’ in place to prevent them. Once the fire spread to a larger area, the dry conditions, hilly terrain and winds, all added to the problem. The fire was doused and controlled only five days after it started, through the combined efforts of several officials as well as the Indian Air Force. 

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Sumalatha kicks off campaign tour from Mandya, meets local Congress leaders

Politics

In February, Sumalatha had met with senior party leader Siddaramaiah to request him to allow her to contest for the party from Mandya in the upcoming elections.

TNM Staff

Actor Sumalatha kicked off a tour of Karnataka’s Mandya district to assess the mood of the people as well meet with local Congress leaders on Friday. Sumalatha had earlier appealed to senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah and requested him to permit her to contest for the upcoming elections from Mandya. On Friday, Sumalatha visited the Someshwara and Shambulingeshwara temples in the district of Mandya, as she began her tour of the district. “We couldn’t imagine life without Ambareesh, but the love and compassion shown by the people of Mandya has helped the family recover,” she reportedly said at the inauguration of a bust of her late husband, actor-politician Ambareesh. While she had previously stated that she had no intentions of entering politics, she has changed her stance at the insistence of the fans of her late husband. "Ambareesh was with the Congress and I am yet to talk to the leaders from the party. I don't know if I will contest the elections but if I do, I will contest from Mandya. Ambareesh had worked for the people of Mandya and our family will continue to do the same. I am humbled by the support the people have shown me and I do not want to disappoint them," she stated to the media at the time. The late actor and politician Ambareesh had joined the Congress in 1999 and had served as the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting until he resigned over issues with the Cauvery Tribunal Dispute Award. It should be noted, however, that his resignation was not formally accepted. According to earlier reports, the JD(S) and Congress were allegedly engaged in disputes over who would get the ticket to contest from the old Mysuru region of Mandya. Several harboured the opinion that Sumalatha would not be favoured as a candidate by the Congress, who apparently do not want to risk their alliance with the JD(S) by giving the ticket to the actor. 

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